The ministry said in a statement on its website it
hoped to acquire Russian anti-aircraft systems and would present a
proposal to President Dilma Rousseff for approval.

"We are interested in acquiring three batteries of
medium level Pantsir-S1 missiles and two batteries of Igla missiles,"
General Jose Carlos De Nardi said in the statement.

De Nardi said Brazilian and Russian officials have
drafted an agreement that, if signed, would include the sharing of
technologies without restrictions and construction of a production plant
in Brazil.

Brazil is also considering multibillion-dollar
proposals from the United States and France to upgrade its antiquated
fighter jet fleet, as the Latin American country tries to bring its
military power up to speed with its recent advances in economic and
political power on the world stage.